At a recent college reunion, my retired geology professor brought the small talk to an abrupt end by asking a former science student in our circle, “Do any climate deniers out there ever send you hate mail?”

I reflected wryly that this professor of science managed to ask a leading question and incorporate ad hominem all in one sentence, thinking about excerpts from The Fallacy Detective I’d just covered with my middleschooler.

Indeed, one can hardly hear something as innocuous as a weather report these days without the anchorman peering into the camera and gravely pontificating on “climate change.”

As someone pointed out with how the worldwide covid phenomenon was handled by the mountains of media, government, and medical, “If you’re not allowed to ask questions, it’s not science. It’s a cult.”

Are there other valid perspectives on climate besides the mainstream monologue?

As with any pervading narrative in current culture, there are two Latin phrases which are useful to keep in mind. They are:

Cui bono? (“who does it benefit?”) and sequere pecuniam  (“follow the money”). When we employ these tools, we are often led to telling discoveries.

The following is a homework assignment I gave the youth and young adults one Sunday morning (with prize incentives). Some enthusiastic parents took up the challenge as well.  I invite anyone to research this as a way to come to your own conclusions about this cultural hot topic:

1. What does the Bible say about climate change?
2. Where is land pollution mentioned in the Bible and what causes it?    Is there a spiritual component to Climate Change? What are the spiritual powers (i.e. Ephesians 5) behind Climate Change? (hint: research Gaia)
3. Which countries are the worst offenders when it comes to pollution? Are they part of the International Climate summit? Does the UN highlight and apply pressure on these countries accordingly?
4. Who or what entities does climate change benefit? (Qui Bono?)
5. Who is funding climate research? (sequere pecuniam)
6. In which decade was global cooling the fear?
7. What is weather manipulation and is it affecting climate change? Which state(s) can you apply for a permit to modify the weather?
8. Where is all of the climate activism ultimately leading? In light of that, what might be the end goal of climate change proponents?

For further insights, check out the following resources:

A Biblical Theology of Climate Change – Just Thinking Podcast (Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker)

Answers in Genesis

The Green Bible – Harper Collins

The Dangers of Exaggerated Climate Change Reporting – Created to Reign Podcast

Fossil Future, Alex Epstein

More resources on science:

Dissent from Darwinism

The Broad Voice of Science – Glenn Walker